Words run out,in tight corner,Sidhu promises hes all action

Navjot Singh Sidhu is not known for his economy with words. However,even by the standards of the former cricketer...

Navjot Singh Sidhu is not known for his economy with words. However,even by the standards of the former cricketer,sports commentator and comedy show host rolled into one,the promise of making Amritsar another Paris was rather tall. Now,as he fights a tight contest in Amritsar,promises such as this are returning to haunt the BJP candidate.

Sidhus main opponent is Congress leader Om Parkash Soni. A local party heavyweight,he has never tasted defeat since he joined active politics in 1991.

Both have a lot at stake,if for Sidhu its a chance to take his political career further than reams of endless words,Soni is hoping to retain his position in the party. And for both,the main issue is development.

Sidhu claims to have made Amritsars voice heard in Parliament since he was elected in 2004 with a margin of 1.3 lakh votes,defeating senior Congress leader R L Bhatia. He resigned after he was convicted in a murder case,but won the by-election that followed beating the Congresss Surinder Singla by 78,000 votes.

Soni,who has been mayor of the city and thrice MLA,is seeking votes on the basis of the grants he has brought to the region,his availability to the people and the works carried out by the previous Capt Amarinder Singh government in the state and the Manmohan Singh Government in the Centre.

Sidhu claims to have initiated projects like solid waste management and plantation of trees,improved the road network,and saved the Rajasansi International Airport an effort that,he says,was appreciated even by Union ministers Praful Patel and M S Gill.

Soni attacks him over projects like four-laning of the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road and the Amritsar-Attari road and expansion of the Attari checkpost. It is due to the funds released by PM Manmohan Singh under various schemes including JNNURM and NREGS that the projects have been flagged off. Sidhu is making false promises, he says.

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The BJP leader counters that had he not raised the issues in Parliament,there would have been no headway in any of them.

Delimitation has altered the constituency with two new Assembly segments of Attari and Rajasani added. While Akalis,who are in an alliance with the BJP,are stronger in Attari,Rajasansi is represented by young Congress leader Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria. The constituency,having over 12 lakh voters,is largely dominated by Jat Sikhs.

Apart from Sidhu and Soni,former governor and retired Lt Gen B K N Chhibber is contesting on the ticket of the BSP. Chhibber is engaged in very low-profile canvassing and claims both the Congress and SAD-BJP are away from real issues.

In the constituency,there is general agreement over improvement of roads but voters point to lack of traffic management in the city and of basic amenities in villages.

Amritsar,Punjab

Candidates

Navjot Singh Sidhu,BJP

Om Parkash Soni,Cong

Lt Gen retd B K N Chhibber,BSP

BACK STORY

2007 bypoll Navjot Singh Sidhu,BJP

2004 Navjot Singh Sidhu,BJP

1999 R L Bhatia,Congress

1998 Daya Singh Sodhi,BJP